Liquid-fuel-pumping apparatus



Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,535

W. C. CARTER LIQUID FUEL PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,535

w. c. CARTER LIQUID FUEL PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F /6 j I;

T l: 6 j "I 1% if; 5 I a I 1% r 1 5 a 6 5 w I 1 4- i (I QQ i if 1 31 uuuuuuuuuu 34 J P 50 Z 0, i la 7 5 C F ml INVENTOR WILL/HIV} G. C/WTF/T 5y WWW P Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,535

w. C CARTER LIQUID FUEL PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IA/VENTOR W/LL/AM C. CAHTE/F Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. CARTER, F FLINT, MICHIGAN.

LIQUm-II'UEL-I'UMPING hummus.

Application fled February 21, 1925. Serial m5. 12,057.

This invention relates to diaphragm pumps of the type in which an automatic, intermittent switch is used to open, and close an elec-v through said contacts, even though the contacts are formed of tungsten or other material which is of such a nature that the faces of the contacts are apt to become coated with a substance that sets up 'aresistance to the flow of the current.

Another object is to provide an electrically-operated diaphragm pump which is pro able element of the diaphragm operating mechanism is moving under the influence of the magnetic force produced by the flow of the electric current through the coil of said mechanism. 7

And still another object is to provide an eflicient apparatus of simple design for drawing liquid fuel from a source of supply and feeding it to an internal combustion engine or to a carburetor associated with such an engine. Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an end elevational view of a liquid fuel pumping apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion of-the apparatus, taken on the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view,.illus trating a slight modification of my invention.

In the form of my invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, A designates the diaphragm of an electrically-operated diaphragm pump, which is preferably composed of a plurality of layers as of fabric treated to render it impervious to water, gasoline and the like without making it brittle or inflexible. The diaphragm A is arranged in opposed relation to a rigid, cup-shaped member 1 so as to form a pumping chamber 2, and the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm is gripped between the'member 1 and an oppp sed elamping member 3, said diaphragm -1ng gripped b said members in such a way that it is taut, ut is capable of moving towards and awag from the stationary wall 1 of the pumping c amber, so asto draw liquid fuel into the pumping chamber from a source of sup ly, and thereafter force said fuel out of sai chamber to an internal combustion engineor to a carburetor associated with such an engine. The pumping chamber 2 is connected by one or more ports 4 with a valve passageway B equipped with an inlet valve 5 and a discharge valve 6. When the pump is in operation liquid fuel is drawn from a source of supply through a conduit that is connected to an inlet 7 at the lower end of the valve passageway B and is discharged from said passageway through a conduit that leads from an outlet 8 at the upper end of said passageway.

The diaphragm A. is flexed back and forth by an electrically-operated mechanism consisting of a solenoid comprising a coil- C and a core providedwith an air gap and comprising movably mounted members arranged at opposite sides of said air gap. In the form of my invention herein illustrated the core is composed of two members or core ieces D and D. A coiled expansion spring that is interposed between said core pieces exerts pressure on the core piece D in a direction tending to move it outwardly, or to the right, away from the core piece D, and the center portion of the diaphragm A is rigidly connectedto the core piece D, which, for convenience, I will refer to as the actuating member of the core. Preferably, the center portion of the diaphragm A is gripped between two members 9 and 10 that are rigidly connected to the actuating member D of the core and which are provided at their peripheral edges with oppositely-flared surfaces 9 and '10" that constitute supporting surfaces for the diaphragm, in its two extreme positions, which prevent the diaphragm from being subjected to sharp bends and strains tending to disrupt it adjacent the point where it is gripped by the members 9 and 10. The membars 1 and 3 which grip the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm are also preferably provided with oppositely-flared diaphragm supporting surfaces 1 and 3 that prevent the diaphragm from being subjected to sharp bends or destructive strains adjacent the point where it is gripped by said members, As shown in Figure 2, the solenoid is encased in a metal housing F that is attached to the members 1 and 3, and ventilating openings 11 and 11 are formed in said housing and in the member 3, respectively, so as to establish atmospheric pressure on the outside of the diaphragm.

The electric circuit that is used to energize said solenoid is provided with two switches, one a manually-operated switch (not shown) that is adapted to be moved into its closed position when it is desired to-set the pump in operation, and the other an automaticallyoperating, intermittent switch that opens and closes said circuit intermittently so as to cause the actuating member D of the core to reciprocate and thus flex the diaphragm A back and forth. Said intermittent switch is arranged inside of a removable cap piece or cover F on the end wall of the housing F, and comprises two contacts 12 and 13 carried by members 12 and 13. The contact carrying member 13 is herein illustrated as a lever that is oscillatingly mounted on a horizontally-disposed support 14 carried b a stationary bracket 15 attached to the on wall of the housing F, and the contact carrying member 12 consists of a spring or flexible element mounted in such a way that one end of same is capable of moving slightly back and forth for a purpose hereinafter described. In the form of my invention herein illustrated the contact carrying member 12 consists of a plate having its upper end secured by screws or other suitable means 16 to the end wall of the housing F and provided at its lower end with a reduced portion or tail piece, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, interposed between the end wall of the housin F and the support 14 for the lever 13 and capable of moving slightly towards andaway from said end well. One end of the coil C of the solenoid is electrically connected with the contact carrying member 12 by a clamping plate 17 arranged parallel to same, as shown in Figure 2, so as to clamp the terminal portion 18-0f the coil against the contact carrying member 12. The member 12 and the parts associated with same are insulated from the end wall of the housing F by insulators 19', shown in Figure 2.

The member D of the core of the solenoid Accordingly, the member D of the core may be said to float inside of the coil, and for convenience I have referred to said member in the claims as the floating member of the core. This movement of the core piece D is used to increase the clamping pressure of the contact 13 on the contact 12. The movement is very slight, only suflicient to close the gap that exists between the outer end of the core piece D and the inner face of the end wall of the housing F when no current is flowing through the coil of the solenoid, but it is great enough to effect movement of the 'members 12 and 13 and thus cause the contacts thereon to be jammed tightly together when the coil circuit is closed. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the core piece D is rigidly connected with the contact carrying member 12 by screws or other suitable fastening devices 20 that pass through spacers 21 interposed between the core piece D and the contact carrying member 12 and arranged in holes in the end'wall of the housing F. Due to the fact that the member D of the core of the solenoid is rigidly connected to the plate 12 that carries the contact 12 of the intermittent switch, movement of said core member D to the left, looking at Figure 2, reduces the distance between the contacts 12 and 13, and

movement of said member D to the right increases the distance between said contacts. It is, of course, not essential that the member I) of the core and the contact carrying member 12 of the intermittent switch be constructed and arranged in the particular manner herein illustrated and above described; the important thing is that the member D of the core be mounted in such a ,way that it is ca able of a slight reciprocating movement longitudinally of the axis of the core and that said member be rigidly connected to the member that carries one contact of the intermittent switch so that when the coil of the solenoid is energized by closing the contacts of said switch, the member D of the core will move, due to the magnetic force, in a direction to increase the pressure of the contacts 12 and 13 on each other.

As shown in Figure 2, the contact lever 13 is provided at its lower end with an angularly-disposed extension 22 of fibre or other suitable lnsulating material that projects towards the tail piece at the lower end of the contact carrying member 12. When said member 12 flexes to the left, as previously is arranged inside of the coil C of the solee dcsoribed, due to the movement imparted to noid in such a manner that when the contacts 12 and 13 of the intermittent switch are brought together, thus energizing said coil, said core piece D will move to the left, looking at Figure 2, towards the end wall of the housing F. When the coil circuit is opened the member D of the core will -move away from the end wall of the housing Funder the influence of the resilient member 12.

said member by the core piece D, when the coil C of the solenoid is energized, said tail piece bears against the extension 22 on the lever 12 and rocks said lever in a direction to increase the clamping pressure of the contacts 12 and 13 on each other. In other words, after the contacts 12 and 13 have been closed or brought together, the slight movement of the core piece D to the left immediso and .13 on each other.

accuse ately after the coil circuit has been "closed, causes the contacts 12 and 13 to be 'ammed tightly together and to be maintains inth'is' condition until the coil circuit is thereafter l opened.

' The lever 13, which virtually forms the movable element of the intermittent switch, is moved into positionto close the coil circuit by a stop 23 on a rod 24 that is connected to the actuating member D of the core, and said lever is moved in the opposite direction to open the coil circuit by an abutment member 25 arranged in spaced relation to the sto 23 and herein illustrated as bein formed y a tubular member surrounding t e rod 24 and connected to the core piece D and the members 9 and 10 which grip the center portion of the diaphragm. A means is used to prevent too free movement of the lever 13 and-thus tend to hold said lever in the position into which it has been moved by the'stop 23 or abutment 25, and in the form of my invention herein illustrated said means consists of a. coiled spring'26 arranged on the support 25 14 for said lever, between one side of said lever, and a stop 27 on said support, as shown in Figure 1, the pressure which said spring exerts on the lever 13" causing it to be clamped against a friction device 218 that 30 bears against the opposite side of said lever; When the'manually-operated switch (not shown) in the coil circuit is open, the actuating member D of the core of the solenoid is positioned some distance to the right of the corepiece D, and the contact13 on the lever 13' is in enga ement with the contact 12, said lever having Eeen moved intothis position by the stop 23 on the rod 24 when the core piece 1 D moved to the right under the influence of so the spring E. If 'said manually-operated switch is then moved into its dosed-position so as to set the pump in operation, the coil C of the solenoid will-become energizedand the core. iece D will immediately move to the left, ooking at Figure 2, thus causing'the contactcarry-ing member "12 to flex to the left and exert pressure on the extension 22 of ythe lever 13 in a direction to rock. said lever and' increa'se the pressure of the contacts 12 The actuating member Uof'the core also starts to move to the left, as soon as the coil is energized, and at about the time the member D of the core comes into contact with the member D of the core, the abutment member 25 strikes the lever 13 and moves "the upper end of sameto'the left, looking at Figure 2, thereby opening the coil circuit. Immediately thereafter, the actuating meinber'D of the core moves to the i 1 00 right under the influence of the spring E, and

just before said actuating member reaches the end of its stroke to the right, the stop 23 i on the rod'24 strikes the lever 13' and moves it in a direction to bring the contact thereon 66 into engagement with the contact 12, whereupon the movements of the co-operating parts previously described will be repeated. It will thus be seen that in my improved pump therclamping pressure of the contacts of the intermittent switch is increased as soon as the coil of the solenoid becomes energized, and said increased pressure is maintained during the inward stroke of the actu ating member D of the core. This is highly desirable, as it insures the current flowing freely through the contacts, it eliminates the possibility of the contacts separating before the actuating member D of the core has completed its stroke to the left and it permits the contacts of the intermittent switch to be made of tungsten or other material which is of such a nature that there is a tendency for a resistance to be set up between the contacts unless they are subjected to considerable pressure when they are engaged with each other.

In order to prevent the spring E from be coming worn by rubbing against the core piece D inside of which it is arranged, the ore in said core piece that receives said spring is lined with a shell 29 of, fibre or some other suitable material that will prevent the spring E from wearing when it rubs over same. The valves in the valve passageway B that govern the admission and discharge of the fuel into .and out of the pumping chamber 2 of the pump, are preferably constructed in the manner shownan Figure 2, as valves of this design are inexpenslve to manufacture and are reliable in operation. ,Each of said valves consists of a thin disk arranged between a flat faced valve seat member 30 and a stop member 31, said members 30 and 31 preferably consisting of cup-shaped sheet metal stampings thatare forced into the valve passageway Brand retained therein by the frictional pressure of'the flanged portion of same against the sidewall of said passageway.

As shown in Figure 2, the stop. member 31 of the discharge valve is first pressed into the valve passageway B against a shoulder at Y the upper end of same, the valve 6 is then introduced, and thereafter the valve seat member 30 of said valve is pressed into the valve passageway in abutting relation with the stop member above the valve, The lower end of the valve passageway B is counterboredso as to form a shoulder for the stop member of the inlet valve 5 and the seat member 30 of said valve is pressed into the valve passageway in abutting relation with the stop member above the valve. 1

When my improved pump is used in .a fuel supply system forinternal combustion engines means 1s provided for maintaininga stances said means may consist of an airtight chamber G, as shown in Figure 2, connected with the upper end of the valve passageway B, or with the conduit that leads from the outlet 8 at the upper end of said passageway. When the pump is in operation fuel stands in the lower portion of the chamber G and rises and falls therein according to the consumption of the fuel by the carburetor. If the consumption of the fuel drops below normal, the air in the chamber G above the-level of the fuel therein will be compressed to a higher degree, due to the rising of the fuel in said chamber, and this increased pressure will be exerted on the diaphragm A of the pump in such a way as to hold said diaphragm flexed to the left, look ing at Figure 2, thus causing the abutment member 25 to bear against the contact carrying lever 13 of the intermittent switch and hold it in its open position. Consequently, the variation in the level of the fuel in the air chamber Gr, beyond certain limits, renders the diaphragm-operating mechanism operative and inoperative automatically andresults in the diaphragm being held at rest, with the energizing circuit of the coil of the solenoid open, when the consumption of the fuel being supplied by the pump is below normal.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated a slight modification of my invention, wherein the contact carrying lever 13 of the intermittent switch is provided at its upper end with an extension 32 that carries two leaf springs 33 arranged at opposite sides of said lever in position to co-operate with the stop 23 that moves said lever in a direction to close the coil circuit and to co-operate with the abutment member 25 that moves said lever in the opposite direction to open the coil circuit. The springs 33 are stronger than the spring 26, previously described, that is used to press the lever 13 against the friction device 28. The advantage of the springs 33 is that they insure the contacts of the intermittent switch remaining open until the actuating member D of the core has completed its stroke to the right and they insure said contacts remaining closed until said actuating member has completed its stroke to the left. Moreover, they cause said contacts to be closed with a quick movement at the completion of the outward stroke of the actuating member I) of the core, and they cause said contacts to be separated with a quick break at the completion of the inward stroke of said actuating member In such a structure it is not essential that the solenoid be provided with a floating core piece D, in view of the fact that the springs 33 which are combined with the contact lever 13 overcome the frictional pressure that normally holds said lever and cause said lever to jump from one position to the other after said springs have been placed under a certain tension.

Accordingly, while I have herein illustrated this feature of my invention embodied in an apparatus whose solenoid is provided with a floating core piece, I wish it to be understood that the member D of the core may be made stationary without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid for operating the pumping element provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, a switch for intermittently opening and closing the circuit that energizes the solenoid, and means for utilizing the movement of said floating member produced by closing the energizing circuit for increasing the pressure of the contacts of said switch on each other.

2. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid for operating the pumping element provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, a spring tent switch for opening and closing the cir-' cuit that energizes the solenoid, and a means rendered operative by the movement of the floating member of the core when the coil circuit of the solenoid is closed for increasing the pressure of the contacts of said switch on each other and for maintaining said increased pressure when the actuating member of the core is being moved by the magnetic force towards the floating member of the core.

3. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid for operating the pumpingelement provided with acore composed of an actuating member and a floating member, and an intermittent switch for opening and closing the coil circuit comprising a contact carrying member combined with the floating member of the core in such a way that the movement of said member produced by closing the coil circuit increases the pressure of the contacts of said switch on each other.

4. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, an intermittent switch provided with two movable contact carrying members, a connection between one of said contact carrying members and the floating member of the core, and means operated b the movement of the actuating member oft e core for moving the other contact carrying member of the switch so as to open and close the coil circuit.

5. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, a switch in the coil circuit provided with 6. In an electrically-operated pump, a

solenoid provided with a core that comprises an actuating member and a floating member, an intermittent switch in the coil circuit provided with apivotally mounted contact carrying member that is adapted to be moved soas to open and close the coil circuit, and means for utlhzmg the movement of the floating member of the core produced by clos-' ing the coil circuit for rocking said contact carrying member so as to increase the pressure of the contacts of said switch on each other. 7

7. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, an intermittent switch in the coil circuit provided with a flexible contact carrying member and a rockable contact carrying member, means for moving said rockable con tact member to open and close the coil circuit, and a connection between said flexible contact carrying member and the floating member of the core, for the purpose described. I

8. In an electrically-operated pump. a solenoid provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, an intermittent switch in the coil circuit provided with a rockable contact carrying member, and an opposed cont-act carrying member connected to the floating member of the core and adapted to be moved by same so as to increase the pressure of the contacts of said switch aftersaid contacts havebeen engaged.

9. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid'provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, an intermittent switch in the coil circuit provided with a rockable contact carrying memher and a flexible contact carrying member, a

connection between said flexible contact carrying member and the floating member of the core, and means whereby movement imarted to the flexible contact carrying memer by the floating member of'the core causes the rockable contact carrying member of the switch to move in a direction to increase the pressure of the contacts of the switch on each other.

10. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, an intermittent switch in the coil circuit provided with a rockable contact carrying member, means for rocking said'contact carrying member in a direction to close the coil circuit, and a means rendered operative by a change in the position of the floating member of the core when the coil circuit is closed for exerting pressure on the rockable member of the switch so as to increase the pres sure of the contacts of the switch on each other.

11. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, an intermittent switch in the coil circuit provided with-two opposed contacts, a lever that carries one of said contacts, a spring that carries the other contact, a connection between said spring and the floating member of the core, and a part on said lever against which the free end of said spring exerts pressure in a direction to increase the pressure of said contacts on each other after they have been engaged.

12. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid provided with acore composed of an actuating member and a floating member, a spring that exerts pressure on said actuating member in a direction tending to hold it away from said floating member, an intermittent switch in the coil circuit provided with two opposed contacts, a lever that carries one of said contacts, a spring that carries the other contact, means operated by the movement of the actuating member of the core for moving said lever so as to open and close the coil circuit, a rigid connection between said cont-act carrying spring and the floating member of the core, and a part on said lever on which the free endof said contact carrying spring exerts pressure when the coil of the solenoid is energized.

13. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, said actuating member being adapted to be moved in one direction by the magnetic force produced in the solenoid, a spring for moving said actuating member in the opposite direction, a switch in the coil circuit provided with two relatively movable contact carrying members, means operated by the movement of the actuating member of the core for moving one of the contact carrying members of the switch in opposite directions to open and close the coil circuit, and means for utilizing the movement of the floating member of the core to move the other contact carrying member of the switch so as to increase the pressure of the contacts of said switch on each other after the coil circuit has been closed.

14, In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid comprising a coil and a core, said core being composed of an actuating member and a floating member, a housing that encases the solenoid, an intermittent switch on the exterior of said housing provided with two opposed contacts, a lever that carries one of said contacts, a spring that carries the other contact, a connection between said spring and the floating member of the core extending through one wall of the housing, co-operating means on said spring and lever ,for increasing the pressure of the contacts on each other when the coil circuit is closed, and means for rocking said lever intermittently.

15. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid provided with areciprocating core member for actuating the pumping element, said member being adapted to be moved in one direction by the magnetic force produced in the solenoid, a resilient means for moving said member in the opposite direction, a switch in the coil circuit comprising a rockable contact carrying member, means for actuating said rockable member to open and close the coil circuit, and a separate reciprocating core member which tends to hold said rockable contact carrying member in the position into which it has been moved.

16. In an electrically-operated pump, a solenoid for operating the pumping element provided with a core composed of an actuating member and a floating member, a spring inside of said floating member that exerts pressure on said actuating member in a direction to hold said members separated, a nonmetallic lining for the bore in the floating member that receives said spring, and a switch for intermittently opening and closing the circuit that energizes the solenoid.

17. In an electrically operated pump, a solenoid including a coil and an actuating member, the latter being provided with a floating member, an intermittent switch in the coil circuit provided with two opposed contacts, a support, a lever mounted on the support and carrying one of said contacts, friction means cooperating with the lever to yieldingly hold the same in position, springs combined with said lever, a device connected with said actuating member and engageable with said springs to compress them sufliciently to effect the movement of said lever to open and close the coil circuit, and means for utilizing the movement of the floating member when the coil of the solenoid is energized for jamming the contacts of the inter mittent switch tightly together.

WILLIAM C. CARTER 

